Connection for reversible iron cords



Mmh @952 REYNOLDS 2,588,986

CONNECTION FOR REVERSIBLE IRON CORDS Filed y 28, 1950 Summer Gttornegs Patented Mar. 11, 1952 UNITED CONNECTION FOR REVERSIBLE IRON corms Donald Leroy Reynolds, Independence, Mo.

Application July 28, 1950, Serial No. 176,383

3 Claims.

This invention relates to electric sadirons, and more particularly to the attaching means for attaching a flexible conductor cord to the sadiron.

Heretofore it has been the practice to attach an electric conductor cord to the rear or side of the sadiron and in some instances, to attach the electric conductor cord so that it may be rotated from one side to the other. The disadvantage of the cord extending from the rear or sides of the iron is dragging of the cord over the ironing board which interferes with the ironing operation. Furthermore in cords extending from the right side of the sadiron, it is very awkward for a left-handed person to use such iron or vice versa. With such irons the cords are very likely to become broken and worn in a short time due to bending and strain.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a sadiron having a handle portion with means whereby the electric conductor cord may be attached from either side thereof at the will of the operator.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a slot in the handle for an electric insert or plug adapted to receive the electrical connec tion of the cord through an opening in either side of the handle; to provide for removable attachment of the electric cord terminal to either side of the handle, and to provide a device of this character simple, economical to manufacture, and efficient in operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sadiron embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the rear portion of thehandle showing the connecting means in disassembled relation.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the rear portion of the handle particularly illustrating the socket contact elements.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4, Fig. 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a sadiron embodying the features of my invention comprising a body portion 2 and a sole plate 3 and a handle 4 having a generally upright portion 5 at the rear thereof. The body portion 2 contains a heating element (not shown) as is the usual practice.

The handle and upright portion thereof is made of a non-heat conductive or electric insulating material such as rubber, plastic or other suitable material, and is provided with a recess 6 extending inwardly from the rear face thereof as illustrated in Fig. 2. The rear portion of the handle is secured to the top plate I of the body portion by screws or the like 8 and the plate is provided with an opening 9 through which an electric connection In extends to the heating element.

- A removable insert or plug II is provided for engaging in the recess 6 and is retained therein by a set screw I 2 as best illustrated in Fig. 3. The rear portion of the handle being provided with a threaded opening extending into the recess portion of the upright memberand the upper portion of the insert having a bore I 3 into which the head M of the screw is embedded as best illustrated in Fig. 3. The insert H is provided with socket contact elements and I6 having arms I! and I8 to which prong contacts l9 and 28 of the connection It! are attached. The socket contact elements are substantially circular and extend to the side edges of the removable plug ll forming a socket 2| and 22 on each side of said plug.

The upright portion 5 of the handle is provided with laterally extending openings 23 and 24 provided with threads as indicated at 25 and 26 (Fig. 2) terminating in the recess 6 in said upright member.

. A cord 21 is provided for supplying current to the heating element having the usual connection 28 for attachment to a wall socket or the like. The opposite end of the cord 21 is provided with a connection 29 of a non-heat conducting or insulating material having prongs 30 and 3| provided with terminals 32 and 33 to which the ends 34 and 35 of the wires of the cord are attached.

The connection 29 is provided with an annular flange 36 and a reduced portion 31. Adapted to be sleeved over the cord 21 is a sleeve member 38 having a socket 39 engaging over the reduced portion 31 when the connection is attached to the handle of the iron. The end of the sleeve member 38 opposite the socket is provided with an annular groove 40 and a sleeve 4|, preferably made of rubber or the like, engaging over the cord 2'! and is also provided with a socket 42 having a lift 43 adapted to engage in the annular groove 40 of the sleeve member 38. The sleeve member 38 and the sleeve 4| are rotatable and slidable on the cord 21 and the outer periphery of the sleeve member 38 is provided with threads 44 engaging with the threads 25 and 26 on either side of the upright portion 5 of the handle 4.

In the use of a device constructed and assem bled as described when the iron is desired to be used by a right-handed person, the connector 29 of the cord 2'! is inserted in the threaded opening 24 of the handle and the prongs 30 and 3| engage in the sockets 2| and 22 of the insert H. The sleeve member 38 is then rotated on the cord so that the threads will engage the threads 26 of the opening 24 and the contacting element and the sockets will then be retained'secu'rely therein.

When the iron is desired to be used'by a left handed person the connection is removed and applied to the threaded opening 23 on the left side of the upright member, the same as described-- for the right-handed person.

I also provide a threaded plug 45 which engages in either of the threaded sockets 23 and 24 when either of such sockets are not in useso-as 'to'pre vent injury by contact with the contacting portions of the insert I I.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided animproved connection for a sadiron which may be used by either a rightor left-handed person as desired,- merel-y: bychan ing the connection of the electric conductor cord totne handle thereof What- I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent-is:

1. An electric sadiron having a handle Of'i'llL- s'ul'ating material with an upright portion at the rear: thereof; said" upright portion having a re cess forming" a rearwardly opening receptacle andthe receptacle; spaced contact elementsin said" insert having portions at the lower end thereof for engagement the" terminals; soclzets on said eon-tact element'sarran ed transversely'of the insert and'ope'ning from the side: thereof in al'ign-ment with the threadedbore, a fiexible 66rd for connecting the sadiron to an electric: power supply; aconnection' at'one-end'of thecordint'he threaded bore in engagement with thersid'e oftrie insert} prongson' saidconnection-m me bl y engaging in thesockets, and a-thradedsle her-'- i'otata-bly' and slid'ablv mountefi ori-tlie c'orci threaded into the threaded bore inteengageinent with the connection for retaining said sonnet: tionin engagement with theinsert and the prongs in the socket V 2: electricsadiro'n having handle with anupright portion at the" rear thereof, saidiiprigl it' portion-having a recess forming arenew 'i' dly opening receptacle and a" "laterally" o" threaded bore communicating with saidre p acle, said sadiron having terminals extend into the receptacle; a removable insert-substantially filling thereceptacle, spacedcontact-elements-irisaid insi t having portions engaging the fr-hi'i nals, sockets on said contact elements arranged transversely of the insert and opening from the side thereof in alignment with the threaded bore, a flexible cord for connecting the sadiron to an electric power supply, a connection at one end of the cord in the threaded bore in engagement with the side of the insert, prongs on said connection removably engaging in thesockets, a threaded sleeve member 'rotatably and'slidably mounted on the'cord threaded intothe threaded bore into engagement with the connection for retaining said connection in engagement with the insert and-the prongsin the socket, and a rubber sleeve engaging over said cord and having one end secured to the threaded sleeve for protecting said cord.

3; An electric sadiron having a handle of insulating material with an upright portion at the rear thereof, said upright portion having a recess forming a rearwardly opening receptacle and laterally opening threaded bores extending through said upright portion and communicating with said receptacle, said sadiroi-ihavingitrmi= rials extending into tlielow'er portion of thereceptacle; a removable insert substantially filling the receptacle, spacedbontact elements in said insert and having" portions at' the lower end thereof for engagement Withthe'ter'hiinals; sock ets on said con-tact elements arranged transv ly of-thei-nsert and openihgfroineach side there of in alignment with the threaded bores, sna ible' cord for connecting the sadiron 'to'an eleizi tri'c power supply, a connection atone end or the cord having an oifs'et cylindrical" portion forming? a shoulder in one of' 'tnsthre'aeed boresinengagement with the respective side of them--- sert, prongs on said connection: removably engaging in the sockets, a threaded sleeve member' rotatably and slidably mounted on the cord threaded into the threaded bore into engagement with: t-li'e'shoiildr' of the connection for retaim ing said connection in engagement with the in sert and thepr'ongs in theso'cket, arubber sleeve engaging over said'cord and having one end-se cured to the threaded sleeve for protecting: said" cord, and a threaded plug removably mounted the other threaded bore for closingsame'.

' DQNALD LEROY REYNOLDS." V

REFERENCES-CITED I The follo'wing refei e'iice'sare of I eGGrdih me or this patent; g

UNITED STATES PATENTS Qpperman- 

